Zarnow: Father of one country, mother of another

Peter Small as Golda Meir. Historical figures, he says, are real people with real character flaws and strengths. He tries to portray those traits to each audience. COURTESY PETER SMALL

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Peter Small recreates the most famous photo taken of Harry Truman. COURTESY PETER SMALL

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Peter Small, portraying George Washington before residents at Morningside of Fullerton, holds a set of teeth and a portrait of Washington to demonstrate that Washington's teeth were removed for the portrait. Small portrays nine historical figures including Thomas Jefferson, Harry Truman, FDR, Thomas Edison, John Adams, Moses and Golda Meir. LEONARD ORTIZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Peter Small, left, a former history teacher in Los Angeles and Washington, portrays George Washington before the residents at Morningside of Fullerton. LEONARD ORTIZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Peter Small, portraying George Washington before residents at Morningside of Fullerton, retells the myth of the chopping down of the cherry tree. LEONARD ORTIZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Some of Peter Small's props he uses to portray George Washington. LEONARD ORTIZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Speaking with ease and candor, Gen. George Washington recently looked back on his life and dished like a guest on "The View."

He debunked that myth about the cherry tree and admitted that while his teeth were not his own, they weren't wooden, either.

Washington defended the Revolutionary War ("We had no other choice") and confessed that his record as commander in chief was somewhat spotty ("I lost more battles than I won ... but I knew how to retreat and keep the Army intact").

He admitted the 13 colonies were ill-equipped to fight a superpower, and they had little idea how to become one nation.

Speaking to residents of the Morningside retirement community in Fullerton, Washington gave a tell-all confession that the future of this nation was like the cliffhanger in a season finale. The outcome was never a sure thing.

Although Washington is dead and buried, he's a vibrant and pivotal historical figure.

Peter Small has made a career out of bringing him and other historical icons back to life.

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Small, 59, started his portrayals in the classroom 26 years ago to enrich his teaching of history. Then, for more than 10 years, he taught a workshop about the inventions of Thomas Edison at Knott's Berry Farm until the park closed the workshop in 2003.

People asked if he could do performances and he's been developing his presentations ever since.

"It's something they are going to remember. It makes an impact on them."

The Costa Mesa resident started by offering school assemblies – February is traditionally rush hour. But as school budgets were cut, he found new success performing in retirement communities. It fits with history lessons he also teaches older adults as an adjunct instructor with the North Orange County Community College District.

Over the years, his repertoire has grown from Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman to include Teddy Roosevelt, John Adams, Golda Meir and Moses.

And he's good. Small rattles off names and dates like his personal memories. He's performed at the presidential libraries of Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, Herbert Hoover, George W. Bush and Richard Nixon.

He prepares for each portrayal as if he were writing a term paper, researching multiple sources for months to create an outline.

"The challenge is not learning it all. That's easy. The challenge is making it interesting for that audience."

Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir might seem an odd choice but Small, who once lived in Israel, says he has no difficulty portraying a woman. Playing Meir just requires a different wig and stockings.

"It's not a drag show; it's a serious historical portrayal," Small said.

Each portrayal is slightly different, tailored to the particular audience.

He includes Jefferson's complex views on slavery and race. But not until the audience is seventh grade or older does he begin to mention the president's relationship with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings.

When he's consistently asked certain questions, Small incorporates those answers into his presentation. He stays in character, answering only with the knowledge available at that time.

Children want to know why George Washington is dressed "funny" with a wig on his head. The cherry tree story always comes up, so he made it part of his monologue. Same with the wooden teeth.

"The man was human. He had rotten teeth."

Small pretends to remove his teeth and does a great mumble.

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History, Small used to tell his classes, is all about hindsight. We need to look back at what happened and understand why.

His student once suggested it was like the "The Wonder Years," the television show in which Kevin Arnold recounts his suburban childhood. In that sense, Small has created a career out of voice-overs.

He portrays historical figures looking back near the end of their lives. If you're someone like Truman or Jefferson, you have important stuff to recall.

Small offers a 360-degree view – historical facts plus his interpretation of the figure's role in history, and of his or her character.

He believes Washington was well-suited to become the father of our country.

"This was a man who could be trusted with power. ... He could have been emperor or king, ... but he was not going to abuse this new republic."

Small says the two-term president seemed cognizant of his place in history, well aware he was setting an example for future presidents.

Truman, on the surface, seemed ill-prepared to become president. But he stepped up to lead this nation through the end of war and its emergence as a world superpower.

"He had a certain spunk and bluntness to him that I enjoyed."

Small doesn't whitewash the past.

He discusses Roosevelt's affair with Lucy Mercer and the effect it had on his marriage to Eleanor.

Moses, he notes, had a bad temper – hence those tablets never made it home.

"These were great people, but they had human faults like anyone."

Audience members in retirement homes can remember FDR and Truman from their lifetimes. They have questions. Why, for example, didn't Roosevelt respond directly to the Holocaust?

"I'm ready to answer those questions in character. ... At the end, I sometimes step out of character to explain the context: what was happening historically and why he responded the way he did."

On this day in Fullerton, Washington teases women in the audience for baring their ankles and wearing pantaloons.

Small brings him to life.

"You're part of the story. It becomes reality," explains resident Shirley Haake. "It was as if he could transport himself."

Adds Gloria Rice: "I really got the feeling how disheartening it was at Valley Forge."

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